Sale of Magas airport outraged social media users

The Ingush government has put the Magas airport up for sale for 250 million rubles, stating that its maintenance costs 100 million rubles annually, and there are no funds for its development. The authorities could find money for the republic's only airport, commentators on the social network were outraged.

The Ingush government has decided to sell 100% of the shares of the joint-stock company "International Airport Magas" named after S.S. Oskanov, the Ingush government reported.

The authorities noted that the republic's only airport "operates under conditions of limited traffic - only one regular flight per day is carried out in the Magas-Moscow direction." "Attempts to increase the number of destinations were made, but they had a temporary effect: until 2022, the airport served flights to St. Petersburg, Samara, Tyumen, Sochi and Petrozavodsk. Subsequently, due to changes in the aviation market, many airlines reduced their aircraft fleets and revised their routes, including refusing to fly to a number of regional airports, including Magas. Because of this, the airport again found itself in a difficult economic situation. Currently, the maintenance of the facility costs the republican budget approximately 100 million rubles annually," the statement said. The authorities noted that over 400 million rubles have been allocated to support the airport over five years.

The airport is unable to ensure its own development. "The key infrastructure is outdated and requires major repairs. The need to purchase modern inspection and other specialized equipment is estimated at no less than 55 million rubles. There is also no in-house fuel and refueling complex, which negatively affects operational efficiency. The main assets - the runway and airfield equipment - are federal property and are used by the airport on a lease basis," the authorities noted, stating that the sale of shares will be held at an open electronic auction with a starting price of 250 million rubles.

This message was reposted by the Instagram* channel News_ingushetii, which has 273 thousand subscribers. By 20:56 Moscow time, the post had garnered 77 comments.

"There is money for holidays, concerts, parties, building restaurants, buying parks. But there is no money to maintain the only airport," black_angel_oo6 was indignant.

"That's what the budget is for, to maintain such facilities, to spend on the needs of the people and the republic, and not to feed officials," kartoev_magomed_ agreed.

"When will the railway station be put up for auction?" - asked user vse_vremenno_06_06.

"In a while, our republic will be nothing but a name, the land has been taken away, the airport is being sold, I won't even mention the stability of water and electricity, there is none, medicine is stuck at the level of "analgin for all diseases,"" - pointed out baysarov98.

* the activities of Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.